‘A sorry picture’: Jaishankar says UN falling short on 2030 agenda, flags failures on SDGs, climate and conflicts

S Jaishankar addresses 80th UN General Assembly.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday questioned whether the United Nations is truly delivering on its mandate, warning that the world body has fallen short in addressing pressing global challenges as the 2030 deadline for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) nears.

Speaking at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly, Jaishankar stated that the time had come to critically evaluate the UN’s performance in the face of rising conflicts, economic upheavals, and the climate crisis.

“There are two significant conflicts underway: one in Ukraine and the other in the Middle East. Innumerable other hotspots don’t even make the news. The slow progress of the SDG Agenda 2030 presents a sorry picture,” he said.

On climate change, Jaishankar was scathing about the lack of genuine progress. “The reality is of recirculated commitments and creative accounting. If climate action itself is questioned, what hope is there for climate justice?” he asked.

The minister also drew attention to inequities laid bare during the Covid-19 pandemic, noting how access to vaccines and even international travel reflected “open discrimination.”

He highlighted how food and energy security became “the first casualties of conflict and disruption, especially since 2022,” with wealthier nations locking in resources while poorer countries struggled to cope.

Raising concerns over trade and technology, Jaishankar accused non-market practices of undermining fair competition. He said tariff fluctuations, restricted market access, and overreliance on a handful of suppliers had compelled nations to explore “de-risking” strategies.

“Heightened technology control, grip on supply chains and critical minerals, and the shaping of connectivity are all sensitive challenges,” he said, stressing that protecting sea lanes and ensuring fairness in the global workplace remain unresolved.

Concluding his remarks, Jaishankar said that these issues require stronger cooperation among nations. He urged the UN to reflect honestly on where it has “actually made a difference.”